The detection of sperm DNA damage, as an important supplement to semen routine examination strategies, has been applied in some clinical andrology laboratories. What factors may lead to sperm DNA damage remains one of the concerns among many andrologists. Present studies show a variety of factors of sperm DNA damage, including age, environmental pollutants such as organophosphorus and organochloride pesticides, plasticizer, heavy metals such as lead, carcinogens such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (c-PAHs) and zearalenone (ZEA), male reproductive system diseases or systemic diseases such as varicocele, infection, tumor, spermatogenesis and maturation dysfunction, spinal cord injury and endocrine disorders, seasons and temperature, lifestyle, abstinence time, semen refrigeration, semen handling in vitro, and certain medications. Among them, spermatogenesis and sperm maturation dysfunction may be the most secretive factors, which are involved in the molecular mechanisms of sperm chromatin packaging and restructuring, such as the transformation of histone to protamine, single nucleotide polymorphism of genes, and the role of telomere, which may be one of the hotspots in the future studies of sperm DNA damage. Relevant researches in the future are expected to focus on the prevention of sperm DNA damage and clarification of its specific pathogenic mechanisms so as to provide some evidence for its treatment.
Age Factors ; Chromatin ; chemistry ; DNA Damage ; Environmental Pollutants ; toxicity ; Humans ; Male ; Protamines ; Semen ; drug effects ; Specimen Handling ; Spermatogenesis ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; Telomere ; physiology ; Varicocele ; complications

Acute Disease ; Cytogenetics ; Humans ; Leukemia ; genetics

Chronic prostatitis is a highly prevalent disease of unclear etiology. Researches show that autoimmune reaction is one cause of the problem. An effective animal model may help a lot to understand the pathogenesis and find proper diagnostic and therapeutic strategies of the disease. Currently used autoimmune prostatitis-related animal models include those of age-dependent spontaneous prostatitis, autoimmune regulator-dependent spontaneous prostatitis, self antigen-induced prostatitis, and steroid-induced prostatitis. Whether an animal model of autoimmune prostatitis is successfully established can be evaluated mainly from the five aspects: histology, morphology, specific antigens, inflammatory factors, and pain intensity.
Animals ; Autoimmune Diseases ; etiology ; pathology ; Chronic Disease ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatitis ; etiology ; immunology ; pathology ; Transcription Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlations of 24 biochemical markers in the seminal plasma with routine semen parameters.

METHODSAccording to the WHO5 standards, we analyzed the routine semen parameters of 66 subfertile men, including the semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, sperm motility, and the percentage of progressively motile sperm (PR). Based on the calibration and quality control measures and using an automatic biochemistry analyzer or electrolyte analyzer, we detected 24 biochemical markers in the seminal plasma of the patients, including total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), globulin (Glb), uric acid (UA), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), alpha hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (αHBDH), adenosine deaminase (ADA), glucose (Glu), triglyeride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), urea nitrogen (UN), creatinine (Cr), high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), K+, Na+, Cl- , Ca, Mg, and phosphorus (P). Then we analyzed the correlations of the 24 biochemical markers with routine semen parameters.

RESULTSThe levels of the TP, Alb, and Glb proteins in the seminal plasma were positively correlated with sperm concentration, so was that of Alb with the total sperm count, and the AST and LDH activities with sperm concentration and total sperm count. The AKP activity in the seminal plasma was correlated negatively with the semen volume, but positively with sperm motility. The αHBDH activity exhibited a positive correlation with both sperm concentration and total sperm count, with a coefficient of correlation (r) above 0.7. The UN level was correlated negatively with the semen volume, so was the Cr level with the semen volume, sperm concentration, and total sperm count, and the Glu level with sperm concentration and total sperm count. The TG level was correlated positively with the semen volume, but negatively with sperm motility. The levels of seminal plasma ALT, GGT, ADA, UA, TC, CK, and hsCRP showed no correlation with the above-mentioned semen parameters. None of the seminal plasma K+, Na+, Ca, Mg, and P levels was found correlated with semen parameters except the Cl- level, which was negatively correlated with the semen volume.

CONCLUSIONMany biochemical markers in the seminal plasma are closely related to routine semen parameters, indicating that these biochemical components may play roles in spermatogenesis, sperm maturation, and physiological metabolism.

Biomarkers ; chemistry ; Humans ; Male ; Semen ; chemistry ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility

A high active soybean isoflavone glucoside hydrolase-producing mould strain was isolated from spirit qu. Its optimal hydrolase-producing conditions were as follows: 2.5% wheat bran as carbon source, 1% NaNO3 as nitrogen source, initial pH7. 0, culture medium volume 40mL/250mL, inoculating quantity 8% , culture temperature 30℃, revolutions 160r/min and culture time 84h. The enzyme activity reached 82 U/mL. Cu2+ can inhibit Absidia sp. R strain from producing the hydrolase, the influence of other metal ions was not remarkable on it.

Animals ; Arsenic ; toxicity ; Comet Assay ; DNA Damage ; drug effects ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; adverse effects

Thrombus is a major factor leading to cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction and stroke. Although fibrinolytic anti-thrombotic drugs have been widely used in clinical practice, they are still limited by narrow therapeutic windows, short half-lives, susceptibility to inactivation, and abnormal bleeding caused by non-targeting. Therefore, it is crucial to effectively deliver thrombolytic agents to the site of thrombus with minimal adverse effects. Based on the long blood circulation and excellent drug-loading properties of human serum albumin (HSA), we employed genetic engineering techniques to insert a functional peptide (P-selectin binding peptide, PBP) which can target the thrombus site to the N-terminus of HSA. The fusion protein was expressed using Pichia pastoris and purified by Ni-chelating affinity chromatography. After being loaded with gold nanoparticles (Au NPs), the fusion protein formed homogeneous and stable nanoparticles (named as PBP-HSA@Au) with a diameter of 17.7 ± 1.0 nm and a zeta potential of -11.3 ± 0.2 mV. Cytotoxicity and hemolysis tests demonstrated the superb biocompatibility of PBP-HSA@Au. Platelet-targeting experiments confirmed the thrombus-targeting ability conferred by the introduction of PBP into PBP-HSA@Au. Upon near-infrared ray (NIR) irradiation, PBP-HSA@Au rapidly converted light energy into heat, thereby disrupting fibrinogen and exhibiting outstanding thrombolytic efficacy. The designed HSA fusion protein delivery system provides a precise, rapid, and drug-free treatment strategy for thrombus therapy. This system is characterized by its simple design, high biocompatibility, and strong clinical applicability. All animal experiments involved in this study were carried out under the protocols approved by the Animal Experiment Ethics Committee of Jiangnan University [JN. No20230915S0301015(423)].

OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-tumor effect and mechanism of a novel compound, C3C12PPD, a bioactive unnatural ginsenoside by metabolically engi-neered yeasts based on a new UDP-glycosyl- transferase from Bacillus subtilis. METHODS MTT assay was used to analyze the anti-proliferation activity of C3C12PPD in vitro. The effect of anti-tumor activity was observed by mouse Lewis xenograft model in vivo.The effects of C3C12PPD on suppressing the angio-genesis and invasion of A549 cells were investigated in vitro using Transwell and tube formation assays. RNAseq was used to find tagets of C3C12PPD. Western blotting was performed to investigate the expres-sion level of proteins in tumor tissues treated with C3C12PPD. RESULTS C3C12PPD could inhibit the growth of lung cancer in vitro and in viv o. At the dosage of 10.0 mg·kg-1, C3C12PPD inhibited tumor growth by 40.0% (P<0.05) in tumor weight in mouse Lewis xenograft. The inhibition of tube formation was 77.5%(P<0.01)and 80.3%(P<0.01)following treatment with 1×10-4and 2×10-4mol·L-1C3C12PPD for 5 h, whereas the proliferation of EA.hy926 cells was not influenced under the above concentrations. Under the concentrations of 1×10-4mol·L-1,C3C12PPD inhibited invasive ability of A549 cells(P<0.05).The results of RNAseq susgested that antitumor activity of C3C12PPD were associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and angiogenesis. Moreover, the proteins related to EMT, Raf/MEK/ERK and AKT/mTOR signal pathways were effected by C3C12PPD analysed by western blotting. CONCLUSION These data suggested that C3C12PPD was able to supress lung cancer through inhibit EMT, invision and angiogenesis.

Abstract: Objective　To analyze the clinical features of hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) associated with Orientia tsutsugamushi disease in children. Methods　The case data of patients with scrub typhus in Kunming Children's Hospital from January 1st 2019 to December 31st 2021 was retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into the HPS group and the non-HPS group according to whether associated with HPS. The clinical data of the two groups were analyzed using SPSS 25.0. Results　Eighty-five cases of scrub typhus in children were collected, 15 cases (17.6%) had HPS. The mean age of patients with HPS was (5.10±3.82) years, included 9 males and 6 female, there was no significant difference in gender and age between the HPS and the non-HPS group (P>0.05). Comparison of the two groups indicted that the incidence of cough, lung rales, edema, and hepatomegaly were significantly increased in the HPS group (P<0.05). The data showed that compared to the non-HPS group, the HPS group showed significant decreases in the levels of hemoglobin (HGB), platelet (PLT), albumin (ALB), fibrinogen (Fib) (P<0.05), and significant decreases in the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), triglyceride (TG), serum ferritin (SF) (P<0.05). The proportion of CD4+ T lymphocytes, CD4+/CD8+ were significantly decreased (P<0.05); the proportion of CD3+, CD8+ T lymphocytes were significantly increased (P<0.05). The proportion of pulmonary exudation or consolidation in the HPS group was higher than the non-HPS group, which was statistically significant (P<0.05). All the patients with scrub typhus associated with HPS were treated with oral doxycycline, and intravenous immunoglobulin was given in 13 cases (86.7%). There was one case of death and 14 cases discharged from hospital after treatment in HPS group. Conclusion　HPS in scrub typhus infected children is a nonnegligible complication. Prolonged fever, lung rales, hepatomegaly，HGB decreased, thrombocytopenia, hyperferritinemia, and abnormal lymphocyte subsets may associate with HPS. It should be alerted to scrub typhus when presenting with HPS in endemic areas. The scrub typhus associated with HPS can be successfully treated with appropriate antibiotic and immunomodulator treatment.

OBJECTIVETo obtain Chlamydia trachomatis heat shock protein (cHSP) 10 gene from clinical secretion samples.

METHODScHSP10 gene was amplified from 20 cases of clinical secretion samples with positive gold-labelling by specific primers of cHSP10 and identified by sequence analysis.

RESULTScHSP10 full-length gene was amplified from 1 of 20 cases of clinical secretion samples with positive gold-labelling. cHSP10 gene encoding 102 amino acids contains 306 bp, which nuclotide at position 194 changes from T to A, leading to the change of corresponding amino acid.

CONCLUSIONScHSP10 gene may be cloned from clinical secretion samples with positive gold-labelling, which make it possible to further construct expression plasmid of recombinant cHSP10.

Antibodies, Bacterial ; blood ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Chaperonin 10 ; chemistry ; genetics ; immunology ; Chlamydia trachomatis ; chemistry ; immunology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; etiology ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction